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Whitesnake - Here I Go Again - Chords/Rhythms - Guitar Lesson

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Key G major
Whitesnake - Here I Go Again - Chords/Rhythms guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Whitesnake Hard Rock G major
Capo Advisor 0 G major · Original key

About Here I Go Again - Chords/Rhythms

The chord and rhythm work in "Here I Go Again" is a great entry point into the driving, open feel of early 1980s Hard Rock guitar. The song sits in G major at a steady 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, which means no capo tricks or retuning headaches. The backbone is a repeating chord sequence built around big, ringing open-position and barre shapes, and the challenge is less about fingering individual chords than locking in the rhythmic feel. Whitesnake leans heavily on a strumming pattern that pushes forward with a confident, almost marching drive, so your right hand needs to stay controlled and even rather than rushed. The pre-chorus and chorus transitions are where timing tends to slip, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop those sections slowed down until the changes feel automatic. Once the rhythm is solid at a reduced tempo, gradually bring it back up to 120 BPM and the whole song clicks into place.

  • The song sits in G major in E Standard tuning, so all your standard open-position G, C, and D voicings apply directly with no retuning required.
  • At 120 BPM the strumming pattern has a steady, driving pulse, and keeping your right hand relaxed is key to avoiding a stiff, choppy feel.
  • The chord transitions between the verse and chorus are the trickiest rhythmic moments, making them ideal candidates for slow, looped practice.

How to Play Here I Go Again - Chords/Rhythms

Tuning: E Standard · Key: G major · Tempo: 120 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

While John Sykes favored the Les Paul Custom, the Standard delivers the same thick humbucker warmth essential to Whitesnake's classic rock tone. Its slightly lighter weight and traditional specs make it an accessible alternative for achieving that powerful, sustained lead sound through cranked tube amps.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

John Sykes' black 1978 Les Paul Custom with gold hardware is the definitive Whitesnake guitar, its stock Gibson humbuckers producing the warm midrange growl and controlled compression needed for 'Still of the Night' solos. This guitar's thick, harmonically rich character became inseparable from the band's signature hard rock voice.

Ibanez JEM
Guitar

Ibanez JEM

Steve Vai brought the Ibanez JEM 777 and its Floyd Rose tremolo to Whitesnake, enabling expressive solo techniques and pitch-bending flexibility that complemented the band's shredding era. The JEM's bright, articulate character contrasted with traditional Les Paul tones while maintaining cutting power through Marshall stacks.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The Marshall JCM800 is the sonic foundation of Whitesnake, delivering the thick, tube-driven natural saturation and harmonically rich distortion that defines songs like 'Still of the Night.' Sykes pushed these heads hard in the preamp, maintaining high presence and treble to retain clarity and pick attack in solos.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

John Sykes used the Dunlop Cry Baby Wah sparingly but effectively for solo accents and expressive passages, adding dynamic color without cluttering Whitesnake's amp-driven aesthetic. This pedal's responsive sweep complemented his Les Paul's warm tone while enhancing the emotional impact of key lead moments.

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